SJCPL Blog

Published November 12, 2009. View the complete list from The New York Times.

Hardcover Fiction:

1. FORD COUNTY, by John Grisham. (Doubleday, $24.) Stories set in rural Mississippi.

2. THE LOST SYMBOL, by Dan Brown. (Doubleday, $29.95.) Robert Langdon among the Masons.

3. KINDRED IN DEATH, by J. D. Robb. (Putnam, $26.95.) Lt. Eve Dallas investigates the brutal murder of a colleague’s daughter; by Nora Roberts, writing pseudonymously.

4. THE GATHERING STORM, by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson. (Tor/TomDoherty, $29.99.) Book 12 of the Wheel of Time fantasy series.

5. THE LACUNA, by Barbara Kingsolver. (Harper/HarperCollins, $26.99.) A young American growing up in Mexico becomes friends with Diego Rivera, Frieda Kahlo and Leon Trotsky; later, in the United States, he is menaced by ­McCarthyism.

Hardcover Nonfiction:

1. HAVE A LITTLE FAITH, by Mitch Albom. (Hyperion, $23.99.) A suburban rabbi and a Detroit pastor teach lessons about the comfort of belief.

2. SUPERFREAKONOMICS, by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner. (Morrow/HarperCollins, $29.99.) A scholar and a journalist apply economic thinking to everything: the sequel.

3. WHAT THE DOG SAW, by Malcolm Gladwell. (Little, Brown, $27.99.) A decade of New Yorker essays.

4. ARGUING WITH IDIOTS, written and edited by Glenn Beck, Kevin Balfe and others. (Mercury Radio Arts/Threshold Editions, $29.99.) Making the case against big government.

5. THE BOOK OF BASKETBALL, by Bill Simmons. (Ballantine/ESPN, $30.) ESPN.com’s Sports Guy crunches big questions in N.B.A. history.

Children’s Chapter Books:

1. CATCHING FIRE, by Suzanne Collins. (Scholastic, $17.99.) The protagonist of The Hunger Games returns. (Ages 12 and up)

2. THE HUNGER GAMES, by Suzanne Collins. (Scholastic, $17.99.) In a dystopian future, a girl fights for survival on live TV. (Ages 12 and up)

3. THE MAGICIAN’S ELEPHANT, by Kate DiCamillo and Yoko Tanaka. (Candlewick, $16.99.) An orphan in search of his sister follows a fortuneteller’s mysterious instructions. (Ages 7 and up)

4. MILLION-DOLLAR THROW, by Mike Lupica. (Philomel/Penguin Young Readers, $17.99.) In tough economic times, the pressure is on for a young quarterback with an unusual opportunity. (Ages 9 to 12)

5. HUSH, HUSH, by Becca Fitzpatrick. (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, $17.99.) A love story with ancient battles and immortals. (Ages 14 and up)

Published November 5, 2009. View the complete list from The New York Times.

Hardcover Fiction:

1. THE GATHERING STORM, by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson. (Tor/TomDoherty, $29.99.) Book 12 of the Wheel of Time fantasy series.

2. THE LOST SYMBOL, by Dan Brown. (Doubleday, $29.95.) Robert Langdon among the Masons.

3. TRUE BLUE, by David Baldacci. (Grand Central, $27.99.) An ex-cop in Washington struggles to clear her name.

4. LAST NIGHT IN TWISTED RIVER, by John Irving. (Random House, $28.) A loggers’ cook and his son are on the run from the law, for decades.

5. PURSUIT OF HONOR, by Vince Flynn. (Atria, $27.99.) The counterterrorism operative Mitch Rapp must teach politicians about national security following a new Qaeda attack.

Hardcover Nonfiction:

1. THE BOOK OF BASKETBALL, by Bill Simmons. (Ballantine/ESPN, $30.) ESPN.com’s Sports Guy crunches big questions in N.B.A. history.

2. SUPERFREAKONOMICS, by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner. (Morrow/HarperCollins, $29.99.) A scholar and a journalist apply economic thinking to everything: the sequel.

3. HAVE A LITTLE FAITH, by Mitch Albom. (Hyperion, $23.99.) A suburban rabbi and a Detroit pastor teach lessons about the comfort of belief.

4. WHAT THE DOG SAW, by Malcolm Gladwell. (Little, Brown, $27.99.) A decade of New Yorker essays.

5. ARGUING WITH IDIOTS, written and edited by Glenn Beck, Kevin Balfe and others. (Mercury Radio Arts/Threshold Editions, $29.99.) Making the case against big government.

Children’s Chapter Books:

1. CATCHING FIRE, by Suzanne Collins. (Scholastic, $17.99.) The protagonist of The Hunger Games returns. (Ages 12 and up)

2. THE HUNGER GAMES, by Suzanne Collins. (Scholastic, $17.99.) In a dystopian future, a girl fights for survival on live TV. (Ages 12 and up)

3. THE MAGICIAN’S ELEPHANT, by Kate DiCamillo and Yoko Tanaka. (Candlewick, $16.99.) An orphan in search of his sister follows a fortuneteller’s mysterious instructions. (Ages 7 and up)

4. HUSH, HUSH, by Becca Fitzpatrick. (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, $17.99.) A love story with ancient battles and immortals. (Ages 14 and up)

5. THE GRAVEYARD BOOK, by Neil Gaiman. Illustrated by Dave McKean. (HarperCollins, $17.99.) To avoid a killer a boy takes up residence in a cemetery. (Ages 10 and up)

Published October 30, 2009. View the complete list from The New York Times.

Hardcover Fiction:

1. THE LOST SYMBOL, by Dan Brown. (Doubleday, $29.95.) Robert Langdon among the Masons.

2. THE SCARPETTA FACTOR, by Patricia Cornwell. (Putnam, $27.95.) Apparent threats on Kay Scarpetta’s life make her hesitate when a TV producer wants her to star in a show.

3. PURSUIT OF HONOR, by Vince Flynn. (Atria, $27.99.) The counterterrorism operative Mitch Rapp must teach politicians about national security following a new Qaeda attack.

4. NINE DRAGONS, by Michael Connelly. (Little, Brown, $27.99.) The Los Angeles detective Harry Bosch fights crime at home and in Hong Kong.

5. THE HELP, by Kathryn Stockett. (Amy Einhorn/Putnam, $24.95.) A young white woman and two black maids in 1960s ­Mississippi.

Hardcover Nonfiction:

1. HAVE A LITTLE FAITH, by Mitch Albom. (Hyperion, $23.99.) A suburban rabbi and a Detroit pastor teach lessons about the comfort of belief.

2. SUPERFREAKONOMICS, by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner. (Morrow/HarperCollins, $29.99.) A scholar and a journalist apply economic thinking to everything: the sequel.

3. WHAT THE DOG SAW, by Malcolm Gladwell. (Little, Brown, $27.99.) A decade of New Yorker essays.

4. TOO BIG TO FAIL, by Andrew Ross Sorkin. (Viking, $32.95.) The 2008 financial implosion on Wall Street and in Washington, by a New York Times reporter and columnist.

5. ARGUING WITH IDIOTS, written and edited by Glenn Beck, Kevin Balfe and others. (Mercury Radio Arts/Threshold Editions, $29.99.) Making the case against big government.

Children’s Chapter Books:

1. CATCHING FIRE, by Suzanne Collins. (Scholastic, $17.99.) The protagonist of The Hunger Games returns. (Ages 12 and up)

2. THE HUNGER GAMES, by Suzanne Collins. (Scholastic, $17.99.) In a dystopian future, a girl fights for survival on live TV. (Ages 12 and up)

3. THE MAGICIAN’S ELEPHANT, by Kate DiCamillo and Yoko Tanaka. (Candlewick, $16.99.) An orphan in search of his sister follows a fortuneteller’s mysterious instructions. (Ages 7 and up)

4. TRICKS, by Ellen Hopkins. (McElderry/Simon & Schuster, $18.99.) A novel in verse about five teenagers who become prostitutes. (Ages 14 and up)

5. SHIVER, by Maggie Stiefvater. (Scholastic Press/Scholastic, $17.99.) Love among the lupine. (Ages 12 and up)

Published October 23, 2009. View the complete list from The New York Times.

Hardcover Fiction:

1. THE LOST SYMBOL, by Dan Brown. (Doubleday, $29.95.) Robert Langdon among the Masons.

2. PURSUIT OF HONOR, by Vince Flynn. (Atria, $27.99.) The counterterrorism operative Mitch Rapp must teach politicians about national security following a new Qaeda attack.

3. NINE DRAGONS, by Michael Connelly. (Little, Brown, $27.99.) The Los Angeles detective Harry Bosch fights crime at home and in Hong Kong.

4. THE HELP, by Kathryn Stockett. (Amy Einhorn/Putnam, $24.95.) A young white woman and two black maids in 1960s ­Mississippi.

5. THE LAST SONG, by Nicholas Sparks. (Grand Central, $24.99.) A 17-year-old girl spends the summer with her divorced father in North Carolina and finds many kinds of love.

Hardcover Nonfiction:

1. HAVE A LITTLE FAITH, by Mitch Albom. (Hyperion, $23.99.) A suburban rabbi and a Detroit pastor teach lessons about the comfort of belief.

2. ARGUING WITH IDIOTS, written and edited by Glenn Beck, Kevin Balfe and others. (Mercury Radio Arts/Threshold Editions, $29.99.) Making the case against big government.

3. HIGHEST DUTY, by Chesley B. Sullenberger and Jeffrey Zaslow. (Morrow/HarperCollins, $25.99.) The importance of preparing for the unexpected, by the pilot-hero of Flight 1549.

4. TRUE COMPASS, by Edward M. Kennedy. (Twelve, $35.) The late senator’s autobiography.

5. MOONWALK, by Michael Jackson. (Harmony, $25.) A re­issue of a best-selling 1988 autobiography.

Children’s Chapter Books:

1. CATCHING FIRE, by Suzanne Collins. (Scholastic, $17.99.) The protagonist of The Hunger Games returns. (Ages 12 and up)

2. THE HUNGER GAMES, by Suzanne Collins. (Scholastic, $17.99.) In a dystopian future, a girl fights for survival on live TV. (Ages 12 and up)

3. THE MAGICIAN’S ELEPHANT, by Kate DiCamillo and Yoko Tanaka. (Candlewick, $16.99.) An orphan in search of his sister follows a fortuneteller’s mysterious instructions. (Ages 7 and up)

4. FIRE, by Kristin Cashore. (Dial/Penguin, $17.99.) The last remaining human monster could save a kingdom. (Ages 14 and up)

5. TRICKS, by Ellen Hopkins. (McElderry/Simon & Schuster, $18.99.) A novel in verse about five teenagers who become prostitutes. (Ages 14 and up)

Published October 16, 2009. View the complete list from The New York Times.

Hardcover Fiction:

1. THE LOST SYMBOL, by Dan Brown. (Doubleday, $29.95.) Robert Langdon among the Masons.

2. A TOUCH OF DEAD, by Charlaine Harris. (Ace, $23.95.) The complete Sookie Stackhouse stories.

3. THE HELP, by Kathryn Stockett. (Amy Einhorn/Putnam, $24.95.) A young white woman and two black maids in 1960s ­Mississippi.

4. THE PROFESSIONAL, by Robert B. Parker. (Putnam, $26.95.) Rich women are turning up dead, and the Boston P.I. Spenser investigates.

5. THE LAST SONG, by Nicholas Sparks. (Grand Central, $24.99.) A 17-year-old girl spends the summer with her divorced father in North Carolina and finds many kinds of love.

Hardcover Nonfiction:

1. HAVE A LITTLE FAITH, by Mitch Albom. (Hyperion, $23.99.) A suburban rabbi and a Detroit pastor teach lessons about the comfort of belief.

2. ARGUING WITH IDIOTS, written and edited by Glenn Beck, Kevin Balfe and others. (Mercury Radio Arts/Threshold Editions, $29.99.) Making the case against big government.

3. TRUE COMPASS, by Edward M. Kennedy. (Twelve, $35.) The late senator’s autobiography.

4. WHERE MEN WIN GLORY, by Jon Krakauer. ( Doubleday, $27.95.) The story of Pat Tillman, the N.F.L. player who enlisted after 9/11, and the Army’s cover-up of his death by friendly fire in Afghanistan.

5. THE MURDER OF KING TUT, by James Patterson and Martin Dugard. (Little, Brown, $26.99.) Investigating the Boy King’s sudden death.

Children’s Chapter Books:

1. THE HUNGER GAMES, by Suzanne Collins. (Scholastic, $17.99.) In a dystopian future, a girl fights for survival on live TV. (Ages 12 and up)

2. CATCHING FIRE, by Suzanne Collins. (Scholastic, $17.99.) The protagonist of The Hunger Games returns. (Ages 12 and up)

3. RETURN TO THE HUNDRED ACRE WOOD, by David Benedictus. Illustrated by Mark Burgess. (Dutton, $19.99.) The further adventures of Pooh and company. (Ages 9 to 12)

4. FIRE, by Kristin Cashore. (Dial/Penguin, $17.99.) The last remaining human monster could save a kingdom. (Ages 14 and up)

5. LEVIATHAN, by Scott Westerfeld. Illustrated by Keith Thompson. (Simon Pulse, $19.99.) A round-the-world in airship trip before the eruption of World War I. (Ages 12 and up)

Published October 9, 2009. View the complete list from The New York Times.

Hardcover Fiction:

1. THE LOST SYMBOL, by Dan Brown. (Doubleday, $29.95.) Robert Langdon among the Masons.

2. AN ECHO IN THE BONE, by Diana Gabaldon. (Delacorte, $30.) Jamie Fraser and his time-traveling wife, Claire, encounter pirates on the high seas; the seventh Outlander novel.

3. ROUGH COUNTRY, by John Sandford. (Putnam, $26.95.) Virgil Flowers investigates a string of murders at a Minnesota resort for women.

4. THE LAST SONG, by Nicholas Sparks. (Grand Central, $24.99.) A 17-year-old girl spends the summer with her divorced father in North Carolina and finds many kinds of love.

5. THE HELP, by Kathryn Stockett. (Amy Einhorn/Putnam, $24.95.) A young white woman and two black maids in 1960s ­Mississippi.

Hardcover Nonfiction:

1. HAVE A LITTLE FAITH, by Mitch Albom. (Hyperion, $23.99.) A suburban rabbi and a Detroit pastor teach lessons about the comfort of belief.

2. ARGUING WITH IDIOTS, written and edited by Glenn Beck, Kevin Balfe and others. (Mercury Radio Arts/Threshold Editions, $29.99.) Making the case against big government.

3. TRUE COMPASS, by Edward M. Kennedy. (Twelve, $35.) The late senator’s autobiography.

4. THE TIME OF MY LIFE, by Patrick Swayze and Lisa Niemi. (Atria, $26.) A memoir by the actor, who died in September, and his wife.

5. THE MURDER OF KING TUT, by James Patterson and Martin Dugard. (Little, Brown, $26.99.) Investigating the Boy King’s sudden death.

Children’s Chapter Books:

1. CATCHING FIRE, by Suzanne Collins. (Scholastic, $17.99.) The protagonist of The Hunger Games returns. (Ages 12 and up)

2. THE HUNGER GAMES, by Suzanne Collins. (Scholastic, $17.99.) In a dystopian future, a girl fights for survival on live TV. (Ages 12 and up)

3. THE MAGICIAN’S ELEPHANT, by Kate DiCamillo and Yoko Tanaka. (Candlewick, $16.99.) An orphan in search of his sister follows a fortuneteller’s mysterious instructions. (Ages 7 and up)

4. TRICKS, by Ellen Hopkins. (McElderry/Simon & Schuster, $18.99.) A novel in verse about five teenagers from varying backgrounds who become prostitutes. (Ages 14 and up )

5. L.A. CANDY, by Lauren Conrad. (Harper/HarperCollins, $17.99.) Excitement in TV land by someone who has been there. (Ages 14 and up)

Published October 2, 2009. View the complete list from The New York Times.

Hardcover Fiction:

1. THE LOST SYMBOL, by Dan Brown. (Doubleday, $29.95.) Robert Langdon among the Masons.

2. AN ECHO IN THE BONE, by Diana Gabaldon. (Delacorte, $30.) Jamie Fraser and his time-traveling wife, Claire, encounter pirates on the high seas; the seventh Outlander novel.

3. THE LAST SONG, by Nicholas Sparks. (Grand Central, $24.99.) A 17-year-old girl spends the summer with her divorced father in North Carolina and finds many kinds of love.

4. THE HELP, by Kathryn Stockett. (Amy Einhorn/Putnam, $24.95.) A young white woman and two black maids in 1960s ­Mississippi.

5. HOTHOUSE ORCHID, by Stuart Woods. (Putnam, $25.95.) A C.I.A. special agent finds that much has changed, and not for the better, when she returns to her Florida hometown.

Hardcover Nonfiction:

1. ARGUING WITH IDIOTS, written and edited by Glenn Beck, Kevin Balfe and others. (Mercury Radio Arts/Threshold Editions, $29.99.) Making the case against big government.

2. TRUE COMPASS, by Edward M. Kennedy. (Twelve, $35.) The late senator’s autobiography.

3. HIGH ON ARRIVAL, by Mackenzie Phillips with Hilary Liftin. (Simon Spotlight Entertainment, $25.99.) The actress and daughter of Papa John Phillips recalls a life of parties, drugs and a complicated relationship with her father.

4. AMERICAN ON PURPOSE, by Craig Ferguson. (Harper/HarperCollins, $25.99.) The Scottish-born comedian describes his journey to late-night television stardom and American citizenship.

5. THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH, by Richard Dawkins. (Free Press, $30.) Evidence for evolution; a counterattack on advocates of intelligent design.

Children’s Chapter Books:

1. CATCHING FIRE, by Suzanne Collins. (Scholastic, $17.99.) The protagonist of The Hunger Games returns. (Ages 12 and up)

2. THE HUNGER GAMES, by Suzanne Collins. (Scholastic, $17.99.) In a dystopian future, a girl fights for survival on live TV. (Ages 12 and up)

3. THE MAGICIAN’S ELEPHANT, by Kate DiCamillo and Yoko Tanaka. (Candlewick, $16.99.) An orphan in search of his sister follows a fortuneteller’s mysterious instructions. (Ages 7 and up)

4. TRICKS, by Ellen Hopkins. (McElderry/Simon & Schuster, $18.99.) A novel in verse about five teenagers from varying backgrounds who become prostitutes. (Ages 14 and up )

5. ODD AND THE FROST GIANTS, by Neil Gaiman. Illustrated by Brett Helquist. (Harper/HarperCollins, $14.99.) A Norwegian boy sets out to save Asgard, city of the gods. (Ages 8 and up)

Published September 18, 2009. View the complete list from The New York Times.

Hardcover Fiction:

1. THE LAST SONG, by Nicholas Sparks. (Grand Central, $24.99.) A 17-year-old girl spends the summer with her divorced father in North Carolina and finds many kinds of love.

2. SOUTH OF BROAD, by Pat Conroy. (Nan A. Talese/Doubleday, $29.95.) An unlikely group’s friendship from the ’60s to the ’80s, and from South Carolina to San Francisco; by the author of The Prince of Tides.

3. THE HELP, by Kathryn Stockett. (Amy Einhorn/Putnam, $24.95.) A young white woman and two black maids in 1960s ­Mississippi.

4. ALEX CROSS’S TRIAL, by James Patterson and Richard DiLallo. (Little, Brown, $27.99.)

5. SPARTAN GOLD, by Clive Cussler with Grant Blackwood. (Putnam, $26.96.) Husband-and-wife treasure hunters search for bottles of wine from Napoleon’s “lost cellar.”

Hardcover Nonfiction:

1. OFFICIAL BOOK CLUB SELECTION, by Kathy Griffin. (Ballantine, $25.) A humorous memoir from the star of “My Life on the D-List.”

2. CULTURE OF CORRUPTION, by Michelle Malkin. (Regnery, $27.95.) President Obama and his team of tax cheats, petty crooks, influence peddlers and Wall Street cronies.

3. OUTLIERS, by Malcolm Gladwell. (Little, Brown, $27.99.) Why some people succeed — it has to do with luck and opportunities as well as talent — from the author of Blink and The Tipping Point.

4. IN THE PRESIDENT’S SECRET SERVICE, by Ronald Kessler. (Crown, $26.) Agents and the presidents they protect.

5. LIBERTY AND TYRANNY, by Mark R. Levin. (Threshold Editions, $25.) A conservative manifesto from a talk-show host and president of Landmark Legal Foundation.

Children’s Chapter Books:

1. CATCHING FIRE, by Suzanne Collins. (Scholastic, $17.99.) The protagonist of The Hunger Games returns. (Ages 12 and up)

2. THE HUNGER GAMES, by Suzanne Collins. (Scholastic, $17.99.) In a dystopian future, a girl fights for survival on live TV. (Ages 12 and up)

3. THE MAGICIAN’S ELEPHANT, by Kate DiCamillo and Yoko Tanaka. (Candlewick, $16.99.) An orphan in search of his sister follows a fortuneteller’s mysterious instructions. (Ages 7 and up)

4. TRICKS, by Ellen Hopkins. (McElderry/Simon & Schuster, $18.99.) A novel in verse about five teenagers from varying backgrounds who become prostitutes. (Ages 14 and up )

5. SHIVER, by Maggie Stiefvater. (Scholastic Press/Scholastic, $17.99.) Love among the lupine. (Ages 12 and up)

Published September 11, 2009. View the complete list from The New York Times.

Hardcover Fiction:

1. DARK SLAYER, by Christine Feehan. (Berkley, $25.95.) A slayer who travels with a wolf pack frees a Dragon­seeker from prison and falls in love with him; a Carpathian novel.

2. ALEX CROSS’S TRIAL, by James Patterson and Richard DiLallo. (Little, Brown, $27.99.)

3. SOUTH OF BROAD, by Pat Conroy. (Nan A. Talese/Doubleday, $29.95.) An unlikely group’s friendship from the ’60s to the ’80s, and from South Carolina to San Francisco; by the author of The Prince of Tides.

4. SPARTAN GOLD, by Clive Cussler with Grant Blackwood. (Putnam, $26.96.) Husband-and-wife treasure hunters search for bottles of wine from Napoleon’s “lost cellar.”

5. THE HELP, by Kathryn Stockett. (Amy Einhorn/Putnam, $24.95.) A young white woman and two black maids in 1960s ­Mississippi.

Hardcover Nonfiction:

1. CULTURE OF CORRUPTION, by Michelle Malkin. (Regnery, $27.95.) President Obama and his team of tax cheats, petty crooks, influence peddlers and Wall Street cronies.

2. OUTLIERS, by Malcolm Gladwell. (Little, Brown, $27.99.) Why some people succeed — it has to do with luck and opportunities as well as talent — from the author of Blink and The Tipping Point.

3. IN THE PRESIDENT’S SECRET SERVICE, by Ronald Kessler. (Crown, $26.) Agents and the presidents they protect.

4. STRENGTH IN WHAT REMAINS, by Tracy Kidder. (Random House,, $26.) A medical student survives civil war and genocide in Burundi, and, after a difficult beginning, flourishes in the United States.

5. BORN TO RUN, by Christopher McDougall. (Knopf, $24.95.) Secrets of distance running from a Mexican Indian tribe.

Children’s Chapter Books:

1. CATCHING FIRE, by Suzanne Collins. (Scholastic, $17.99.) The protagonist of The Hunger Games returns. (Ages 12 and up)

2. THE HUNGER GAMES, by Suzanne Collins. (Scholastic, $17.99.) In a dystopian future, a girl fights for survival on live TV. (Ages 12 and up)

3. TRICKS, by Ellen Hopkins. (McElderry/Simon & Schuster, $18.99.) A novel in verse about five teenagers from varying backgrounds who become prostitutes. (Ages 14 and up )

4. SENT, by Margaret Peterson Haddix. (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, $15.99.) Several kids are transported to the 15th century, when they were members of the British royal family. (Ages 8 to 12 )

5. L.A. CANDY, by Lauren Conrad. (Harper/HarperCollins, $17.99.) Excitement in T.V. land by someone who has been there. (Ages 14 and up)